VARIOUS – Black America Sings Stevie Wonder – CD [APR 10]

Description

CD – This score of Stevie Wonder covers show the reverence in which he is held among the Black Americans he was writing for and about. And hes still out there today, still doing his thing, still inspiring and delightingaudiences everywhere.

When the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, middle brother Jermaine quit the group to pursue a solo career on thelabel. After a string of underwhelming releases, he called on Wonder to assist with his sixth album. The LP was coproduced by Wonder, who had writing and performance credits on three of its tracks, including the punchy funk of
Lets Get Serious, the title song. Wonders fingerprints are all over the track, from Jacksons vocal inflections to theunmistakable sound of its co-writers backing vocals, drums, piano, guitar and synth.

That opening track is a sign that Wonder did not necessarily keep his best songs for himself. Moreover, this collectionalso features Tell Me Something Good by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan; Marvin Gayes minor key gem Youre TheOne For Me; Margie Josephs version of To Know You Is To Love You, a song first recorded by Syreeta; Open UpYour Heart by LaBelle; the great Bad Weather by the early 70s-era Supremes; Randy Crawfords delicious recordingof We Had A Long So Strong, originally a Smokey Robinson & the Miracles album track; What Are You Going To Do
With It by Betty Wright, who co-wrote the song; and the Four Tops What Else Is There To Do (But Think About You) of which all are further examples of great Stevie Wonder songs with no known recording by the man himself.

Other highlights here include Aretha Franklins 1973 smash hit Until You Come Back To Me (Thats What Im GonnaDo); Quincy Jones killer version of Superstition, with Wonder among the backing vocalists; the Bar-Kays blisteringtreatment of I Was Made To Love Her; and disco star Sylvesters fervent electro-gospel take on Living For The City,Wonders scathing examination of racial injustice, class and migration. Lou Rawls1972 long-player A Man Of Valueended as does this compilation with his breathtaking interpretation of Evil, also the closing track on WondersMusic Of My Mind album.

Tracklist:

1. Let’s Get Serious – Jermaine Jackson
2. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
3. Superstition – Quincy Jones
4. Living For The City – Sylvester
5. I Was Made To Love Her – The Bar-kays
6. Jesus Children Of America – The Dixie Hummingbirds
7. To Know You Is To Love You – Margie Joseph
8. What Are You Going To Do With It – Betty Wright
9. Bad Weather – The Supremes
10. What Else Is There To Do (But Think About You) – Four Tops
11. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Nancy Wilson
12. You’re The One For Me – Marvin Gaye
13. Open Up Your Heart – Labelle
14. As – Sister Sledge
15. Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – Aretha Franklin
16. Superwoman – The Main Ingredient
17. My Cherie Amour – O.C. Smith
18. We Had A Love So Strong – Randy Crawford
19. Don’t Know Why I Love You – The Persuasions
20. Evil – Lou Rawls